Friday, 9 September 2016

A recent update from
the Department of Immigration & Border Protection highlights the Mutual
Recognition Arrangement between Australia and New Zealand Customs Service
(NZCS), signed during the recent World Customs Organisation’s council session
in Brussels in July.

The MRA formally
recognises supply chain security programs between customs agencies and provides
reciprocal benefits to each country’s trusted partners. The MRA will also
provide Australia and New Zealand’s border agencies with greater end-to-end
assurance over imports and exports.

The Australia-New Zealand MRA will ensure that members of the Australian Trusted Trader (ATT) programme and the NZCS Secure Exports Scheme receive preferential border treatment and trade facilitation benefits when conducting trans-Tasman trade.

Thursday, 1 September 2016

Not just talking the talk – Retail embracing social as well as environmental issues

We all know that in order to stay on top of your game, you have to adapt. Sometimes moving forward and embracing a strategy that initially has no positive impact on your top or bottom lines can turn into a the “best idea we ever had”.

Of the top 20 brand leaders in 1999, only seven remain in the top 20 today. A very sobering statistic, but one common factor for those that have remained in that top 20 (Cadbury, Google, Dyson, Lego, Sony, Virgin) is their ability to introduce social and environmental matters into their strategy as well as their offering.

A 2016 survey of more than 1800 CEOs in the retail industry found that 52% of CEOs believe their customers choose brands not solely on price and features but also on the basis of social and environmental issues.

In response to consumer concerns, and hoping to be among the brand leaders topping the list in 15 years from now, these companies are offering healthier options, minimising CO2 output and water usage, collaborating with local non-governmental organisations to improve the environment and economic conditions.

Retail giants Costco and Starbucks have led the way in adopting above-minimum-wage pay, a trend that is currently under the microscope here in Australia, and one that some consumers say “heavily influences” their purchase decisions.

So, what are the implications? Consumer goods and retail companies are learning that they need to better represent their customers’ broader needs and values. The few leading brands that have embraced social issues for many years will become part of a much larger club as their competitors and peers scramble to embrace the changes.

Stronger alliances with public health and environmental organisations will take center stage. Companies will invest in political lobbying and government-relations resources to help articulate their point of view on any number of high-profile public policy issues.

At 20Cube, one of our key values is to ensure we have a positive impact on our environment. If you would like to understand how 20Cube can help your business have a positive impact on the environment, please contact us.

Tuesday, 23 August 2016

Retail giant Amazon is
set to use small drone technology to deliver its parcels to UK customers, following
the permission of the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority to start its Prime Air
research and development programme. While the CAA is keen to support
innovation, drone delivery posits significant questions about redefining
traditional supply chain routes. Read More

Thursday, 7 July 2016

Trusted Trans-Tasman
exporters will be rewarded with fast-tracked customs processing at Australian
and New Zealand borders under a new arrangement between the two countries.

The Australian
Department of Immigration and Border Protection and New Zealand Customs Service
(NZ Customs) signed a Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) last Friday, to
recognise the supply chain security programmes of both countries.

Australian Border Force
(ABF) Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg, and NZ Customs Comptroller, Carolyn
Tremain, met at the World Customs Organization’s sessions in Brussels to sign
the MRA.

Commissioner Quaedvlieg
said the arrangement would benefit members of the Australian Trusted Trader
(ATT) programme and the NZ Customs Secure Export Scheme (SES).

“It is anticipated that
the MRA will allow $3 billion of New Zealand exports to Australia to be fast
tracked,” Commissioner Quaedvlieg said.

“As we increase
membership of the ATT programme, we expect that $7.5 billion of Australian
exports to New Zealand will benefit from the MRA by 2020.

“Reducing the
regulatory duplication between the two schemes will make it easier for
Australian and New Zealand businesses to trade with each other and boost the
international competitiveness of both countries.”

NZ Customs Comptroller
Carolyn Tremain said the two agencies already work closely together and this
arrangement will provide further assurance over trans-Tasman trade for both
countries.

“The MRA means New Zealand’s Secure Export
Scheme members will benefit from a faster and smoother border experience with
our closest neighbour, and gives traders on both side of the Tasman a
competitive advantage,” Ms Tremain said.

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

OOCL has unveiled the
joint services it will operate in conjunction with partners ANL and Coscon
under the newly formed Asia Australia Consortium (A3) that will focus on the
trade between North East Asia and Australia.

The A3 will launch
three dedicated services, namely the Northern Express, Central Express and
Southern Express, connecting 10 major North East Asia ports with Sydney,
Melbourne and Brisbane.

Subject to regulatory
approval, the A3 plans to launch the new services starting from September or
October.

The port rotation for
the weekly Northern Express is Yokohama, Osaka, Busan, Qingdao, Shanghai,
Kaohsiung, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and back to Yokohama.

The Central Express is
also a weekly service, with the following port rotation: Shanghai, Ningbo,
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and back to Shanghai.

The port rotation for the weekly Southern
Express is Kaohsiung, Xiamen, Shenzhen-Shekou, Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne,
Brisbane and back to Kaohsiung

The report proposed a
package of regulatory and non-regulatory reforms to minimise the costs of
complying with the Regulation.

In light of this
process and the potential for further changes to the Regulation, the department
has decided to extend the initial 'soft-start' compliance period until any
amendments from the KPMG review have been finalised. This is expected to extend
the soft-start period until late 2016 or early 2017.

​A further Compliance
Advice Notice will be released to advise when the 'soft-start' compliance
period will end.​

Friday, 3 June 2016

The Department of
Agriculture & Water Resources has issued an industry advice notice
regarding the importation of used machinery, equipment and parts.

Importers, customs
agents and brokers have been advised that from 16 June, 2016, an import permit
will no longer be required, a change that coincides with the commencement of
the Biosecurity Act 2015.

How does this affect you?

If you're an importer of used machinery, equipment and parts, then you will no
longer need to obtain a permit. The aim of the new arrangment is to reduce
costs and regulatory burden to importers.

BICON was updated on 16
June to reflect the change.

Your opportunity to contribute to revised import conditions

The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources has commenced a review into
the management of biosecurity risks associated with imported used machinery and
equipment, which may result in further changes to import conditions​ for these
goods.

A discussion paper is
expected to be released in July/August 2016 outlining the proposed changes and
affected stakeholders will be invited to provide
comment.

Tuesday, 31 May 2016

With the commencement
of the new Biosecurity Act 2015 on 16 June 2016, importers are reminded of the
need to obtain any relevant import permits prior to the arrival of goods in
Australia.

If you intend to import
goods into Australia that require import permits eg fertilizer products, you
must comply with the new legislation.

Under the Biosecurity
Act 2015, the department cannot issue an import permit for goods that have
already landed. In the past, the department has facilitated imports that have landed
without a permit by allowing importers to apply for a permit. This will no
longer be the case.